Sunday, December 08, 2013

Midnight Eye-Nightmonger EP

Self-Release/Independent
2013

We all known the old saying that good things come in small packages. A prime example of this would have to be the latest release from Midnight Eye. With only 3-track's this EP is admittedly short. It runs only 19 minutes in length but Midnight Eye, who were formed in 2010 and hail from Washington, D.C (which we won't hold against them!), make the most of such a short amount time and provide the listener with a tantalizing blend of N.W.O.B.H.M. influences and U.S. power metal that's a mere spitting distance away from being full-on thrash! On their new 3-song EP "Nightmonger", which appears as it it might be a digital download and nothing more, we find vocalist/guitarist Simon Callahan and cohorts (guitarist Jaime Ibacache, bassist Will Rzad and drummer Alex Tomlin)proving that good things can still be found in Washington, D.C. (I know, another snide remark about our nation's capital! What gives?). Now, this isn't Midnight Eye's first rodeo ride as they also have a 2010 demo and a full-length release in the form of 2012's "Sign" (also self-released). Whether those stack up next to this 3-track EP though is not something I'd want to make a guess about so let's just roll with what we've got and talk about this little beauty and what it has to offer. Besides rocking out N.W.O.B.H.M.-infused power metal (and doing it so well thank you very much!) the band offers up a wide-range of vocals (harsh and clean with additional moments where our friend Simon goes all King Diamond on everyone!) and rips a whole in the sky! Well, maybe not literally, but sweeping heavy metal like this with it's "Take it or leave it" attitude and "Take no prisoners and take no shit" delivery is just flat-out cool. And sometimes cool is all it takes my friends!

"So, in closing, fuck you METAL MARK. Fuck you, fuck Lynch Mob, and fuck your shitty website!”
“I don't know who this METAL MARK is, but I know better than to waste my time checking out anything else written by this asshole”
-Mike